updated 04:33 pm EDT, Mon April 7, 2014

The Raspberry Pi Foundation is creating a third model of its Raspberry Pi micro computer, intended for businesses and industrial use. The Raspberry Pi Compute Module combines most of the functionality of the Model A Raspberry Pi into a single board, one that is designed to be inserted into other circuitry, allowing it to be included in custom-designed systems.

The module itself uses Broadcom's BCM2835 System on Chip with 512MB of RAM, with a 4GB eMMC flash module for storage instead of the SD card used in the original. While it lacks the typical connectors of a Raspberry Pi, it uses the standard DDR2 SODIMM connector to link it to other electronics, giving designers more flexibility in using the onboard SoC than before.

Raspberry Pi Compute Module beside a Raspberry Pi

In an effort to help PCB designers work with the device, the Compute Module IO Board will be offered at the same time. The IO Board can accept the Compute Module, and provides HDMI, USB, and microUSB power connections, as well as a number of pin headers and flexi connectors. The Pi Foundation states it is a "quick way to start experimenting with the hardware and building and testing a system before going to the expense of fabricating a custom board."

The Compute Module and the IO Board will be sold from RS and element14 this June as a bundle, with the Compute Module being sold on its own shortly after. Prices for the bundle are unknown, but the Compute Module will reportedly cost around $30 each in batches of 100, and more expensive individually.